Continuous process and apparatus for making paper yarn



Oct. 11, 1960 R. H. MARKS 2,955,403

CONTINUOUS PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER YARN Filed April 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I 31mm 35, QWm zK/J,

BY 1' L 6 I 0a. 11, 1960 R. H. MARKS 2,9

1 CONTINUOUS PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER YARN Filed April 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y I I J 39% (V Q @G) llfllllllllmllllllllllfllllll-l I- w 1 0 I s g N (w T; \x

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BY 1 Q 6 7 v ATTORNEY Oct. 11, 1960 R. H. MARKS 2,955,403

commuous PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER YARN Filed April 10, 1958 s Sheets-Shet s 7/9 0 l L TI: 22 E E r 2? wig-Ia mug-Ii: J4 20 jg g .52 i I 46 I I J a 4A T W a? I i J//-\ INVENTOR 33 610mm 3&976MK0 A United States PatentOfifice CONTINUOUS PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER YARN Ronald H. Marks, 7800 Sovereign Row, Dallas, Tex. Filed Apr. 10, 1958, Ser. No; 727,559 15 Claims. (Cl. 57-32) My invention relates broadly to the manufacture of paper yarn, string or tape and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for the continuous manufacture of twisted paper yarn, string or tape from paper web material.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial Number 634,480 filed January 16, 1957 for Continuous Process and Apparatus for Making Paper through the processing cycle by operation of the spindles.

Another object of my invention is to provide .a method and apparatus for imparting moistureto traveling strands of paper tape while integrally connected with a paper web from which the strands are slit within a restricted portion of each of the paper strands within which a twisting operation is performed with respect to each of the strands while in transitory movement and free of engagement throughout'the path of travel thereof from the integral connection with the paper web material to the winding thereof on the spindl Still another object of my invention is to provide a method and apparatus for spindling twisted paper yarn slit from a roll of relatively dry paper web material wherein a multiplicity of strips of paper yarn are drawn bythe associated spindles which constitute the propulsion force for moving the slitted strips through the ma chine without the engagement thereof by feed rollers and wherein the application of moisture to the individualstrips is confined to the immediate area within which twisting of the strips is accomplished while the strips are in transitory movement continuously from the roll of relatively dry paper web material.

A further object of my invention is to provide a method of forming twisted paper yarn in a unitary machine in which the paper is supplied to the machine in the form of a roll of paper Web material in a relatively dry state and is unwound by the accumulated forces developed by the pulls of ring travelers associated with individual spindles on which the paper yarn is wound and wherein thestrips are individually subjected to a moistening operation limited to the area in which the strips are twisted into paper yarn thereby preserving the tensile strength of the paper foriexerting the accumulated pulling force on the roll of paper web material for insuring the transmission of the pulling forces necessary to unwind the roll of paper web material without the interposition of feed rollers.

1 strips of paper severed from the paper web are wound,

. 70, Other and further objects ofmy invention reside the construction and arrangement of the parts of a machine for slitting, treating, twisting, and winding paper into paper yarn while integrally attached to a relatively dry paper web supplied from a roll as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the machine of my invention schematically illustrating the process and machine arrangement for producing twisted paper yarn according to my invention;

Fig.2 is an end view of the machine of my invention schematically showing the manner in which the relatively dry paper webmaterial is slitted'into strips and pulled through the machine by propulsion forces developed by the movement of the travellers and the associated spindles and showing particularly the manner in which moisture is applied to the individual strands of paper stripsrestricted to the area in which the strips are subjected to twisting operations;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing the path of travel of the paper strip after it is slitted from the paper web particularly the manner in which propulsion forces are.

generated. by the ring travelers and associated spindles for pulling the twisted paper yarn without engagement with feed rollers.

.The paper yarn of my invention is particularly in-.

tended for use in the Paper Seamless Circular Tubular Knitted Product of my Letters Patent 2,721,462, of- October .25, 1955; and for use in the products manufactured on the Automatic Mechanism for Closing and Cutting :Paper Seamless Circular Tubular Knitted Products of my Letters Patent 2,819,467 of January 14, 1958; and for use in the Knitted Paper' Products of my application Serial Number 542,078 of October 21, 1955; and for use in the Knitted Paper Yardage and'Method of Producing the Same of my application October 14, 1957.

My invention is directed to a continuous process and apparatus for the manufacture of twisted paper yarn from relatively dry paper web material wherein high' speed operation is obtained by utilizing the accumulated propulsion forces of all of the-spindles on which the after treatment and twisting. In the process of'my invention I eliminate the delays through frictional drag on the paper strips severed from the paper web roll nor-.

mally occasioned by the engagement of the strips by feed rolls. I'wholly dispense with feed rolls in the transitory path of movement of the strips extending from the paper web to the spindle on which the paper yarn is wound. I employ guide means for directing the paper strips through an immersion bath after which the strip thereto from the ring traveler associated with each spindle. The elimination of all feed rollers insures the is subjected to a twisting operation by a force imparted maintenance of the form ofthe paper strips and avoids. crushing thereof and more particularlyeliminates bal-" looning of the individual strips during high speed op? eration and insures the uniform winding of the yarn on the individual spindles. individual strips only over substantially that portion of the length of the strips Patented Oct. 11, 1960,

through 'the machine 689,886 of v The moisture, is impartedto the.

which is subjected to twisting, thus insuring the maintenance of the tensile strength of the strips from the time the strips are severed from the relatively dry paper roll to the time that the strip is moistened and twisted preparatory to being wound upon the spindle.

Referring to the drawings in more detail reference character 1 designates the frame of the machine including a supplemental frame structure 2 on which the spindles and the drive mechanism therefor are mounted. The frame 1 includes a platform 3 having a pair of spaced standards 4 thereon in which a shaft 5 is journaled. Shaft 5 includes a paper centering device 6 and a tensioning device 7 associated with the shaft for controlling the uniform rotation shaft 5 in a clockwise direction when looking at the end of the shaft shown in Fig. 2. The centering device 6 provides a mounting means for the roll of paper web material 8. This roll is approximately 40 in diameter and is relatively dry. The paper web material thereon is received from the mill in a relatively dry state and moisture is not added thereto. This dry paper possesses considerable dry tensile strength and may be pulled through a series of knives represented at 9 and 10 having associated adjusting means 11 by which the dry web is severed into strips which I have indicated in Fig. 1 at 12. In one form of my invention a roll of paper web material of 12" in width may be slitted into approximately 64 strands depending upon the lateral setting of the knives 9 and 10. These strips may have a width of approximately A inch in width. The strips 12 are spread by means of a comb represented at 14 from which some of the strips are directed forwardly as represented at 15 and others of the strips are directed rearwardly as represented at 16. These strips are not engaged by feed rollers but receive their propulsion force from the ring travellers and the spindles shown generally at 17 and 18.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the ring traveler and spindle assembly 17. The spindle is shown at 19 mounted on vertically disposed shaft 20 driven through belt 21 operating over guide pulley 22 and driven from drum 23 mounted on drive shaft 24 journalled in the supplemental frame 2. Belt 21 also drives the next adjacent spindle represented in Fig. 4 at 25 and also passes around drive pulleys represented at 26 and 27 on spindle shafts 28 and 29 of the rearwardly arranged ring traveler andspindle assembly in the row of these assemblies represented at 18. Belt 21 is guided over roller 30 and returns tothe driving drum 23 as shown in Fig. 4.

The ring travelers associated with each of the spindles are indicated at 31 and 32 and these revolve around the raceway indicated at 33 and 34. The spindles revolve at high speed and the up and down action of the ring raceways is a determining factor in the speed of laying the twisted paper yarn on the spindles in even and symmetrical layers. The movement of the ring travelers 31 and 32 that ride within the raceways 33 and 34 give the paper the necessary twist and maintain a predetermined tension on each strip.

Interposed between the ring traveler and the comb 14 I provide means for wetting the dry paper strips as they pass from the material of the paper web 8. As shown more particularly in Fig. 3 the paper strip in the path 15 passes through a dry paper loop guide 35 and into a trough 36 in which there are three longitudinally extending spaced stationary rods which I have indicated at 37, 38 and 39. The trough 36 contains treatment fluid such as water or other wetting agents. The round rod 37 is located below the liquid level while the round rods 38 and 39 are located above the surface of the liquid level. The dry strip 15 passes into the wetting agent around the stationary rod 37 and is threaded upwardly between the spaced rods 38 and 39 located above the fluid level. The paper strip; now moistened, is passed over the rod or roller 41 which is positively driven in a counter clockwise direction and assists in moving the paper strip toward the ring twister. The paper strip is guided into the assembly 17' by means of the looped guide 42 mounted on the hinged plate 43 hinged at 44 to enable the plate 43 to move up and down through a vertical path of approximately 6". The 6" distance is synchronized with the movement of the raceway 33 up and down the associated spindle through a path of approximately 13 so that when guide 42 is in the extreme up position the raceway 33 is in the extreme position and with the raceway in the extreme down position the guide 42 also moves to the extreme downward position. The hinge mounting 44 operates both upwardly and downwardly.

The ring twister operates to impart a twisting movement to the strip 15 for twisting the strip into yarn between the twist stop established by the roller 41 and the ring twister at 3 1. The moisture imparted to the strip 15 by the wetting agent 40 is effective to allow the paper strip between the roller 41 and the revolving traveler 31 to receive a relatively tight twist forming yarn at the same time that the yarn is being pulled in the direction indicated by the arrows 45. The tensile strength of the paper strip is increased by the twisting Within the area extending from roller 41 to the ring traveler 31 which compensates for the possible decrease in tensile strength established by the wetting of the paper strip. Thus the ability of the paper strip to transmit a' pulling force from the original paper roll 8 to the spindle 19 is not impaired as the moving strip 15 is" dry and the portion of the yarn below roller 41 and above ring traveler 31 even though moistened is rapidly twisted actually increasing the tensile strength of the strand so far as the ability of the strand to transmit a pulling force to the web of the paper roll is concerned. Inasmuch as there maybe as many as sixty-four individual strands of paper, portions of which are dry and flat and portions of which are moistened and twisted connected in series, the accumulated strength of all of these strips may be employed to uniformly, continuously and' rapidly draw the web material from the roll 8 through the knives 9 and 10 to effect the simultaneous slitting and subsequent treating and twisting of the paper strips int'o yarn at high speed. Sufl'icient drying of the yarn is effected by the centrifugal dissemination of the moisture droplets as the yarn is wound on the spindles. Throughout 'the description I have described single assemblies of the travelers and spindles and the means for guiding the paper yarn thereto but it will be understood that the assemblies are all similar and that the description herein is intended to refer to all of the like assemblies used in the equipment.

It; will be' understood that the twisting portion of the yarn is confined tothe area thereof between the stop afforded by the roller 41 and the ring twister 31 while the flat portion of the strip extends from the roller 8 through the knives 9 and 10, the separator 14, the portion of the strips at 15 and 16 and the portion of the strips extending from the treatment tank such as 40 to the roller 41'.

The i'mportanceofthe'instant development in the art 7 will be realized when it is considered that the average roll of paper web material 8 of 40" diameter and 12 width for twenty'pound paper is of the order of four to five hundred pounds and yet, this heavy roll of paper may bepulled from the roll by the approximately sixtyfour strands of paper yarn which are initially in various widths, such as The accumulated strength of the approximately sixty-four strands of yarn is adequate to continuously revolve the roll as the paper web material is drawn through the cutting knives and over the guide rollers and through the ring twisters onto the spindles without the retarding effect which would otherwise be imposed by the interposition of friction rollers in the path of each of the paper strands. of yarn is free-running and not engaged byfriction feed rollers but has a translatory movement with respect to guide rollers; eliminating all crushing effect upon the fibers Each of the paper strands operation increases the tensile strength of ing relative stiffness when dry and having relatively low.

tensile strength when treated to impart flexibility for twisting purposes, may be handled by the present invention. The rotative drive mechanism is schematically indicated at 46 and'is' attached to drive shaft 24 which serves to simultaneouslydrive all of the spindles of the machine. These .spindles are divided into groups of four, two of which are located in one lateral row of spindles supported by the frame of the machine extending forwardly with respect to the position of the comb 14, and the other two of which are located in a laterally disposed row extending rearwardly of the position of the comb14. In this way the driving forces for pulling the paper Web material and the roll 8 are symmetrically distributed.

v I have found the method of my invention highly successful in the productionof paper yarn at high speed at low cost and while I have described by invention in certain of its preferred embodiments I realize that modifications may be made and-I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. The method of spindling twisted paper yarn which consists in splitting paper strips from a rotatable roll of relatively dry paper web material, attaching the terminating ends of the strips to rotatably driven spindles and drawing the paper strips fromthe rotatable roll through the tensioning of the paper strips, imparting moisture to the strips through a restricted portion of the path of travel of the strips, and twisting the moistened portion of each individual strip immediately following the moistening step to formyarn while pulling the strips from the relatively dry roll of paper web material, the twisting of each individual strip being carried out in such close following sequence to. the moistening step that said twisting each strip to compensate for the reduction of tensile strength caused bythe moistening, whereby breakage of the individual strips which might otherwise result from said moistening step is obviated.

. 2; The method of spindling twisted paper yarn which consists in rotatablymounting a roll of relatively dry paper web material, drawing the paper web material from the roll, splitting the paper web material into relatively dry paper strips, connecting the terminating ends of the paper strips individually to rotatably driven spindles and drawing the paper strips from the paper web material for revolving the paper web material and effecting the severance thereofinto relatively dry paper strips, imparting moisture to each of the strips over a restricted portion of the path oftravel thereof and twisting the moistened portion of the strips to form yarn while pulling the strips from the relatively dry roll'of paper web material, the relatively dry and the twisted moistened portions of said strips being serially disposed and the twisting operations imparted to the moistened portions of said strips operating to maintain the tensile strength of each of said strips substantially uniform and compensate for the reduction of tensile strength due to the moistening of the said strips, whereby saidstrips each constitutes a forcetransmitting strand for continuously maintaining the roll of paper web material in rotation from propulsion forces developed by-thetrotatably driven spindles.

' 3. The method of spindling twisted paper yarn which consists in rotatably mounting a roll of relatively dry paper Web material, drawing the paper. web material from the roll, splitting the paper web material into relatively dry paper strips, distributing certain of said strips in a forward direction and simultaneously distributing others of said strips in .a rearwarddirection with respect to the position in which the strips are split from the paper web material, attaching the terminating ends of the paper strips individually tojrotatably driven spindles, unrolling the paper web materialfrom the roll by tension. forces imparted through the paper strips by the rotation of the spindles, imparting moisture to each of the paper strips.

throughout a restricted portion of the path of travel thereof, and twisting the moistened portions of the strips to form yarn while pulling the strips from the relatively dry roll of paper web material and propelling the roll.

4. The method of producing twisted paper yarn which consists in splittingstrips of paper from a rollof paper web material while unrolling the paper web material through tension applied conjointly through the several paper strips split from the paper web material, applying moisture to a portion of the length of the individual paper strips while the strips are maintained in tension, and then twisting each moistened strip immediately subsequent to the moistening step to increase the tensile strength of each of the moistened strips while under tension for compensating for the reduction in tensile strength due to the addition of moisture to the paper strips and spindling each paper strip on an individual spindle while continuously maintaining a pulling force therethrough for unrolling the paper web" material.

5. The method of producing twisted paper yarn which comprises splitting relatively dry strips of paper from a roll of relativelydrypaper ;web material while unrolling the web material through tension forces applied conjointly through the several paper strips split from the paper web material for imparting translatory movement to the individual strips for sliding the strips from the paper web material to individual rotating spindles, establishing a twist stop in each of the strips while moving the strips, imparting moisture to a portion of each of the strips in advance of the twist stop therein, whereby each strip includes a dry portion and moistened portion in series, in-

dividuallytwisting the strips subsequent to its movement past the twist stop, being carried out in moistening step that tensile strength of such strip to compensate for the re-- duction of tensile strength caused by the moistening and storing thetwisted strips on individual spindles operative to impart pulling forces through both the moistened and dry portions of the strips to the roll of paper web material.

6. The method of spindling twisted yarn from a material which is relatively stiff when in a dry state and which has relatively-low tensile strength when in a moistened condition, said method consisting in rotatably mounting a roll of said material in web form and in relatively dry condition, drawing the web material from the roll, splitting the web material into relatively dry strips, connecting the terminating ends of the strips individually to rotatably driven spindles and drawing the strips from the web material for revolving the web material and effecting the severance thereof into relatively dry strips, imparting moisture to each of the strips over a restricted portion of the path of travel thereof and twisting the moistened portion of the strips to form yarn while pulling the strips from the relatively dry roll of web material, the relatively dry and the twisted moistened portions of said strips being serially disposed and the twisting operations imparted to the moistened portions of said strips operating to maintain the tensile strength taining the roll of web material in rotation from p'ropul sion forces developed by the rotatably driven spindles.

7. An apparatus for producing yarn from a material which is relatively stiff when in a dry state and which has low tensile strength when in a moistened condition, said apparatus including, a frame, a plurality of spindles and associated winding means carried by said frame, driving means for rotating said spindles and winding means, a roll of relatively dry web material journaled for rotation in the frame, a multiple slitter for slitting said web material into strips, a connection between each of said strips and the individual spindles, said strips forming the sole connection between the roll of web material and the spindles, a moistening means carried by the frame and located a preselected distance in advance of the winding means, means for directing each strip through the moistening means to apply moisture thereto, and means disposed immediately beyond the moistening means in the line of travel of each strip for twisting said strip, said driving means operating as the sole motive power to pull said strips through the slitter and wind the same on said spindles by tension forces extending through said strips from said spindles to said rotatably journaled roll of web material.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the means for moistening the strips comprises a longitudinal trough containing a moisturizing agent whereby a plurality of said strips may be simultaneously moistened.

9. The method of spindling twisted yarn from a ma terial which is relatively stiff when in a dry state and which has relatively low tensile strength when in a treated condition which has rendered the material sufficiently flexible for a subsequent twisting operation, said method consisting in rotatably mounting a roll of said material in web form and in relatively dry condition, drawing the web material from the roll, splitting the web material into relatively dry strips, connecting the terminating ends of the strips individually to rotatably driven spindles and drawing the strips from the web material for revolving the web material and effecting the severance thereof into relatively dry strips, treating each of the strips over a restricted portion of the path of travel thereof to render each strip flexible to facilitate subsequent twisting thereof and twisting the treated portion of the strips to form yarn while pulling the strips from the relatively dry roll of web material, the relatively dry and the twisted treated portions of said strips being serially disposed and the twisting operations imparted to the treated portions of said strips operating to maintain the tensile strength of each of said strips substantially uniform and compensate for the reduction of tensile strength due to the treating of the said strips, whereby said strips each constitutes a forcetransmitting strand for continuously maintaining the roll of web material in rotation from propulsion forces developed by the rotatably driven spindles.

10. The method of spindling twisted yarn'from' a material which is relatively stiff when in a dry state and which has low tensile strength when in a treated condition, said method consisting in, rotatably mounting a roll of relatively dry web material, splitting strips from said rotatable roll, attaching the terminating ends of the strips to rotatably driven spindles and drawing the strips of material from said rotatable roll through the tensioning of said strips, passing the strips through a treating 'zone to impart flexibility to said strips and thereby render them amenable to twisting, although weakening them in tensile strength, and twisting each of the treated strips sufficiently soon after its passage through the treating zone to compensate for the loss of tensile strength before such tensile strength loss causes breakage, said twisting of the individual strips forming each of the strips into yarn while pulling the strips from the relatively dry roll of web material.

11. Apparatus for producing paper yarn comprising a frame, a multiplicity of spindles and associated winding means carried by said frame, driving means for simultaneously rotating said spindles and winding means, a roll or relatively dry paper web material journaled for rotation in said frame, a multiple slitter for slitting said paper web material into strips, a connection between each of said strips and the individual spindles, said strips forming the sole connection between the roll of paper web material and the spindles, said driving means providing the sole motive power which pulls said strips through said slitter and which Winds the same on said spindles by tension forces extending through said strips from said spindles to said rotatably journaled roll of paper web material, means for imparting moisture to said strips over a. limited portion of the path of travel of said strips, and a ring type twister device for each strip associated with the winding means for said strip and having means for twisting the moistened area of the strip while at the same time maintaining a predetermined tension on said strip.

12. Apparatus for producing paper yarn comprising a frame, a multiplicity of spindles and associated winding means carried by said frame, driving means for simultaneously rotating said spindles and winding means, a roll of relatively dry paper web material journaled for rotation in said frame, a multiple slitter for slitting said paper web material into strips, a connection between each of said strips and the individual spindles, said strips forming the sole connection between the roll of paper web material and the spindles, said vdriving means providing the sole motive power which pulls said strips through said slitter and which winds the same on said spindles by tension forces extending through said strips from said spindles to said rotatably journaled roll of paper web material, guide means interposed in the path of movement of said strips from the connection thereof with said paper web material to the spindles, and means for twisting said strips into paper yarn located between one of said guide means and said spindles, and means for applying moisture to said strips and located to apply said moisture just ahead of the twisting means in the path of travel of said strips.

13. Apparatus for producing paper yarn comprising a frame, a multiplicity of spindles and associated winding means carried by said frame, driving means for simultaneously rotating said spindles and winding means, a roll of relatively dry paper web material journaled for rotation in said frame, a multiple slitter for slitting said paper Web material into strips, a connection between each of said strips and the individual spindles, said strips forming the sole connection between the roll of paper web material and the spindles, said driving means providing the sole motive power which pulls said strips through said slitter and which winds the same on said spindles by tension forces extending through said strips from said spindles to said rotatably journaled roll of paper web material, guide means interposed in the path of movement of said strips from the connection thereof with said paper web material to the spindles, means for applying moisture to said strips subsequent to the slitting of said paper web material into strips, and twisting means located immediately beyond the moisture applying means in the path of travel of said strips, said twisting means being associated with said winding means for twisting the moistened strips into paper yarn while the rotation of said spindles pulls said strips from said roll of paper web material.

14. Apparatus for producing paper yarn comprising a frame, a multiplicity of spindles and associated winding means carried by said frame, driving means for simultaneously rotating said spindles and winding means, a roll of relatively dry paper web material journaled for rotation in said frame, a multiple slitter for slitting said paper web' material'into strips, a connection between each of .said strips and the individual spindles, said strips forming the soleedriving connection between the roll of paper web material and the spindles, and said driving means providing the sole motive power which pulls said strips through said slitter and which winds each strip on its respective spindle by the tension forces extending through said strips from said spindles to the said roll of paper Web material, and a twist stop for each strip located in the path of travel of each strip between said slitter and the spindle for that strip, the only material extending between the twist stop and the spindle being a section of the paper strip.

15. Apparatus for producing yarn from a material which is relatively stiff when in a dry state and which has low tensile strength when in a treated condition, said apparatus comprising a frame, a multiplicity of spindles and associated winding means carried by said frame, driving means for simultaneously rotating said spindles and winding means, a roll of relatively dry web material journaled for rotation in said frame, a multiple slitter for slitting said web material into strips, a connection between each of said strips and the individual spindles, said strips forming the sole connection between the roll of web material and the spindles, said driving means providing the sole motive power which pulls said strips through said slitter and which winds the same on said spindles by tension forces extending through said strips from said spindles to said rotatably journaled roll of web material, means for treating said strips over a limited portion of the path of travel of said strips, and a ring type twister device for each strip associated with the winding means for said strip and having means for twisting the treated area of the strip while at the same time maintaining a predetermined tension on said strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 446,926 Perkins Feb. 24, 1891 2,388,745 Katz NOV. 13, 1945 2,743,572 Hiensch May 1, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 294,792 Germany Oct. 26, 1916 

